Shiv Sena-UBT Slams BJP for Abandoning Ideology, Accuses Party of Power-Driven Alliances in Maharashtra Civic Polls

Mumbai, Jan 2026 : As campaigning heats up for elections in Maharashtra’s 29 municipal corporations, Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of sacrificing ideological principles for the sake of political power.

In an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray faction labelled the BJP’s recent manoeuvres in the state as a “shameful display of hypocrisy” following revelations of local alliances with both the AIMIM and the Congress party.

“The BJP’s current mindset is to do whatever it takes to remain in power and avoid sitting in opposition. The party lacks an original ideology; its Hindutva is merely a pretense used for selfish political gain. Without the warmth of power, the BJP cannot survive. This is why it is willing to ally with Owaisi’s party. For the sake of power, the BJP first gave the ‘Adhan’ (call to prayer), then performed the ‘Nikah’ (marriage), and even the ‘circumcision,’ but the ‘Qazi’ recited the prayers so loudly that the BJP’s secret affair became public,” the editorial said.

The piece further alleged that the BJP has long used AIMIM as a “hidden helper” to divide opposition votes in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. “Whenever Owaisi arrives in Maharashtra to give the ‘Azaan,’ it signals that the BJP’s election preparations have begun,” it added, describing the partnership as a “romance behind the trees” that has now been revealed openly.

Specific municipal council developments were cited as examples of this trend. In the Akot Municipal Council, the BJP is accused of forming an “open marriage” with AIMIM, while in Ambernath, the party allegedly collaborated with Congress to undermine the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. The editorial noted that despite Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s damage-control efforts—ordering a “triple talaq” from these alliances and promising action—the BJP’s credibility has suffered irreparably. “Reputation lost in a drop cannot be regained by a tankful,” it stated.

The Shiv Sena-UBT editorial further criticised BJP’s recruitment strategy, alleging that most of its current MLAs, MPs, and corporators—nearly 80 percent—are former Congress, NCP, or Shiv Sena leaders. “While PM Modi promised a ‘Congress-mukt Bharat,’ the BJP has become a ‘Congress-yukt BJP.’ The party absorbs corrupt leaders and puts them on display as Hindutva champions, but their real policy is winning elections at any cost,” the piece said.

The Thackeray faction also highlighted the secrecy surrounding these alliances. According to Saamana, negotiations, bargains, and clandestine meetings were held in private until exposures forced them into the public domain, revealing the BJP’s pragmatic but ethically questionable approach to retaining power.

In conclusion, the editorial accused the BJP of abandoning its ideological moorings, indulging in opportunistic alliances, and turning the pursuit of power into its sole guiding principle. The Shiv Sena-UBT warned that such strategies erode Maharashtra’s political culture and could have long-term consequences for governance and public trust.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)